Prof. Lurene M. Contento J.D.

I joined Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2019, and teach Legal Writing IV for international LL.M. students and Legal English.

I have extensive experience teaching legal writing, negotiations, and other legal skills to international attorneys and students. Additionally, I have lectured extensively abroad, including in Australia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, and Mexico.

I began my teaching career at the John Marshall Law School in 2001, first as an adjunct professor and later as an assistant professor and director of the Writing Resource Center. As director, I built the center into a professionally staffed resource that held more than 1,500 advising sessions per year. I have personally counseled thousands of students - both J.D. and international LL.M. students.

Before embarking on my teaching career, I was an attorney in the Law Office of Harvey L. Harris PC; areas of practice included divorce, real estate, probate, personal injury, and bankruptcy.

I earned a B.A. in English literature summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago and was awarded Loyola's Martin J. Svaglic Literary Excellence Award. I earned my J.D. magna cum laude from the John Marshall Law School. I am licensed to practice law in Illinois.

I was awarded the Global Legal Skills Award in 2017 and the Deborah Hecht Memorial Writing Award in 2012. I served as head of the Association of Legal Writing Specialists from 2012 through 2018 and I have chaired or co-chaired committees for the Global Legal Skills Conference Series, the Legal Writing Institute, and the Association of American Law Schools.

From 2015 to 2018 I was on the editorial board of the Scrivener, the newsletter of Scribes: The American Society of Legal Writers. I have written about legal writing and related topics for Scrivener and The Second Draft, published by the Legal Writing Institute, and have presented widely, both domestically and internationally, on legal pedagogy and skills training.

Bottom line, you’re in good hands and I am expert at delivering what’s promised in this presentation.